The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-10-08


common at that time. Although pro-
tected by the Continental army from for
age or the rudeness OF soldiery the Bios
som farm had always been hating place
for passing troopers, commissary team
sters and accommodating officers. Gen.
Sullivan and Col. Hamilton had watered
their horses at its broad, substantial way
side trough and sat in the shade Of its
porch. Miss Thankful was only awak-
ened from her day dream by the entrance
OF the negro farm hand, Caesar.
"Fo' God, Missy Thankful, them
sogers is g'wine into camp in the road, |
reckon, for they's jest making theysevs
free afo' the house, and they's an officer
in the company room with his spurs
cooked on the table, readin' book"
A quick flame leaped into Thankful's
cheek, and her pretty brows knit them
selves over darkening eyes She arose
from her work no longer the moody girl,
but an indignant goddess, and, pushing
the servant aside, swept down the stairs
and threw open the door.
An officer sitting by the fire in nm easy,
lounging attitude that justified the serv-
ants criticism, arose instantly with an air
Of evident embarrassment and surprise
that was, however, as quickly dominated
and controlled by gcntleman's breeding.
al beg your pardon" he said, with a
deep inclination of his handsome head,
"but l had no idea that there was any
member of this household at home-at
least, lady" He hesitated moment.
catching in the raising of her brown
fringed lids sudden revelation Of her
beauty and partly losing his composure.
~ am Maj. Van Zandt; i have the honor
Of addressing"--
"Thankful Blossom" said Thankful
little proudly, divining, with woman's
swift instinct, the cause of the majors
hesitation. But her triumph was checked
by new embarrassment visible in the
face of the officer at the mention Of her
name.
Thankful Blossom" replied the officer
quickly. "You are, then, the daughter
Of Abner Blossom''
Z Certainly" said Thankful, turning
her inquiring eyes upon him. "He will
be here betimes. He has gone only to
Morristown" In new fear that had
taken possession of her, her questioning
eyes asked, "IIas he notf"
The officer, answering her eyes rather
than her lips, came toward her gravely.
"He will not return today, Mistress Thank
full, nor perhaps even tomorrow. He is
"a prisoner"
Thankful opened her brown eyes aggres-
sively ON the major. "a prisoner-for
what2'
"For aiding and giving comfort to the
enemy, and for harboring Spies" replied
the major with military curtness.
Mistress Thankful's cheek flushed
slightly at the last sentence; recollection
of the scene on the porch and the baron's
stolen kiss flashed across her, and for a
moment she looked as guilty as if the man
before her had been witness to the deed.
He saw it, and misinterpreted her con-
fusion.
"Belike, them" said Mistress Thankful,
slightly raising her voice and standing
squarely before the major, "belike, then,
should be a prisoner too; for the guests
of,this house, if they be spies, were my
guests, and, as my fathers daughter, l
was their hostess; ay man, and right glad
to be the hostess Of such gallant gentle
men-gentlemen, warrant, too fine to
insult defenseless girl; gentlemen spies
that did not cock their boots on the table
or turn an honest farmers house into
taprOom."
An expression of half pain, half amuse
ment, covered the face Of the major, but
he made no other reply than by n pro-
found and graceful bow. Courteous and
deprecatory rs it was it apparently exas-
perated Mistress Thankful only the more.
"And pray who are these spies and who
is the informer9' said Mistress Thankful,
facing the soldier, with one hand trucu
lently placed on her flexible hip and the
other slipped behind her. "Methinks tits
only honest we should know when and
how we have entertained both"
"Your father, Mistress Thankful" said
Maj. Van Zandt gravely, "has long been
suspected of favorng the enemy; but it
has been the policy of the commander
chief to overlook the political preferences
of n-combatants, and to strive to win
their allegiance to the good cause by lib
eral privileges. But when it was lately
discovered that two strangers, although. j
bearing pass from him, have been fire.
quenters of this house under fictitious
names"-
"You mean Count Ferdinand and the
Baron Pomposo," said Thankful quickly |
1.-TWO honest gentlefolk; and if they
choose to pay their devoirs to a lass-al-
though, perhaps, not n quality lady, yet |
an honest girl"--
"Dear Mistress Thankful" said the
major with profound bow and smile,
that, spite Of its courtesy, drove Thank
full to the verge of wrathful Mysteries, ''if |
you establish that fact-and, from this |
slight acquaintance with your charms, l |
doubt not you will-your father is safe |
from further inquiry or detention. The |
commander in-chief is n gentleman who |
has never moderated the influence Of |
your sex, nor held himself averse to its |